Maternity Services Guide A guide to the services you can expect when having a baby in Dumfries and Galloway Welcome Welcome to NHS Dumfries and Galloway Maternity Services. We hope you will find this booklet helpful and informative. It is designed to be a handy guide to the facilities and services available throughout your pregnancy and after the birth of your baby. For more information you can visit our web pages at: www.nhsdg.scot.nhs.uk In addition you will receive a copy of Ready Steady Baby, a guide to pregnancy, birth and early parenthood. This can also be accessed on line at: www.hebs.com/readysteadybaby. These guides will answer many of the questions you will have about your pregnancy, birth and caring for your new baby. They will provide a valuable source of information and it is important to keep them safe for reference. Useful Telephone Numbers Women and Children’s Wing, Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, (DGRI) Dumfries. Antenatal Clinic (DGRI) 01387 241200 Monday – Friday 8.30am – 4.30pm Maternity Suite (DGRI) 24/7 01387 241231 Birthing Suite (DGRI) 24/7 01387 241207/8 Maternity Assessment Unit 01387 241211 Labour & Emergency (DGRI) 24/7 Neonatal Unit (DGRI) 24/7 01387 241234 Clenoch Birthing Centre (CBC) 01776 707722 Stranraer 8am – 5pm NHS 24 111 (free phone) 3 How to find us Women & Children’s Wing, Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, Cargenbridge, Dumfries DG2 8RX By car: DGRI is sign posted (hospital A&E) on all approach roads to Dumfries. The Woman and Children’s Wing is to the right of the main hospital entrance and is clearly signposted. By public transport: There is a regular bus service to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary. For bus times please visit www.swestrans.org.uk / www.houstoncoaches.co.uk The 500 Service from the west of the region will call into the hospital as it makes its ways to and from Dumfries. Houstons Coaches 111 service runs regularly from Dumfries to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary. The Woman and Children’s Wing can be accessed easily from the car park at DGRI. It is possible for you to be dropped off at the main entrance, the woman and children’s wing is located to the right of the main hospital entrance. If arriving out of hours there is an intercom system on the left hand side of the Woman and Children’s main entrance, press the department you are visiting to gain access. The Birthing Suite, Maternity Assessment, Maternity Suite and Neonatal Unit are located on the first floor and are clearly signposted from the entrance. 4 Clenoch Birthing Centre, Galloway Community Hospital, Dalrymple Street, Stranraer, DG9 7DQ. By car: The Galloway Community Hospital is signposted on all approach roads to Stranraer. By public transport: There is a regular bus service from Stranraer town centre to Waverley Medical Centre. Please contact local operators for times as these may be subject to change. There are various bus services from outlying areas to Stranraer, please check with local operators for details. Arriving at Clenoch Birthing Centre: During day time hours you should report to main reception, after 5pm access is via the accident and emergency department. Travel Expenses In certain circumstances you may be entitled to help with travel costs. You will need to provide evidence of your entitlement to financial assistance, together with proof of travel expenses e.g. tickets and receipts. The completed form should be taken to the Cashier’s Office, which is located on the ground floor near the main entrance to the hospital. 5 Our Aims To provide safe effective person centred care to meet the needs of each mother, baby and family within a friendly and caring environment. We believe that the care you receive before, during and after the birth of your baby is vital in making the experience as pleasant and rewarding as possible. To achieve this it is our aim that: ● You feel in control of all aspects of your care. ● You are able to make decisions about your care based on your individual needs and wishes, having discussed options fully with the professionals involved. ● You will be cared for by a team of midwives in the community to ensure continuity in antenatal and postnatal care. You will have a named midwife who will carry out the majority of that care. ● You will receive one to one midwifery care in established labour. ● Care will be provided by other members of the maternity care team and professionals from other health teams and agencies as appropriate. 6 Our Model of Care To meet our aims you will be allocated to a team of community midwives and a named midwife at the start of your pregnancy. You will get to know them well as, in most cases, they will provide the majority of your care. The midwives will refer you to a doctor, or other health professional, as appropriate. The pathway of your care will be discussed with you at your initial visit and the following options will be available to you: Midwife led care This means your antenatal and postnatal care will be carried out by your named midwife or the community team. Your care during labour, birth and the immediate postnatal period will be provided by one of the following, depending on where you choose to have your baby;- Midwives in the DGRI team if you choose DGRI. Your community team midwives if you choose home The Wigtownshire team midwives if you choose the CBC. Midwives will carry out risk assessments throughout your pregnancy and will seek advice or refer you to an obstetrician, GP or other health professional if actual or potential risk factors arise. Shared care As the name suggests your care would be shared between midwives, obstetricians and/or GPs. Women with identified medical needs or potential problems would be advised to attend some consultant obstetrician clinics. You will not necessarily be seen by a consultant for every check – it will depend on the reason for needing to see him/her and the stage you are at in your pregnancy. In between times you will be seen by your team midwives and/or GP. Specialist care For some complex conditions, some care during pregnancy, as well as labour, birth and after you have the baby may be undertaken in specialist centres, usually in Glasgow or Edinburgh. In between times your local consultant obstetrician, team midwives and/or GP will take care of you. 7 Care During Pregnancy Care during pregnancy, or antenatal care, aims to maintain and improve your health and to check the baby is as healthy as possible. We aim to pick up any potential problems early, so that they can be dealt with to keep you and your baby well. It will also give you the opportunity to discuss your choices for antenatal screening tests, for labour and birth, and to raise any concerns you may have. We aim to provide you with the information you need to choose the care best suited to you and your baby. From the moment you first book for maternity care, plans will be made with you and can be changed with your agreement, according to your individual needs and wishes. Please feel free to ask your named midwife for information and explanations and discuss any concerns you may have at any stage. If everything is straightforward with your pregnancy you will only need to have ten appointments, for a first pregnancy, and only seven for subsequent pregnancies. Detailed information about your care during pregnancy, screening tests and any classes that are available will be explained to you by your team midwives. This is supplemented by written information, i.e. Ready Steady Baby and additional information leaflets, and will be available electronically on the Woman’s portal. A range of antenatal classes are offered across the region, your midwives will let you know what is available locally. 8 Day Care Assessment Some problems that occur during pregnancy require to be fully assessed. In most cases this can be carried out without admission to hospital either in your home or in a healthcare setting. The care may be undertaken by one of your team midwives or a midwife from DGRI or the CBC. In Patient Care If your condition requires you to be more closely monitored or to have more detailed tests, admission to DGRI will be necessary. Maternity Unit Tour The aim of the tour is to familiarise you and your partner with the facilities available to you both. This is normally conducted as part of a parent education session, but can be arranged for you individually by your team midwives. Tours can be arranged at DGRI and CBC. What you will need to bring into hospital Along with an overnight bag for yourself and your new arrival(s) Medication(s) Please bring into hospital all your prescribed medicines including inhalers, creams, eye drops and any medicines bought from a pharmacy, shop or health food shop including herbal remedies. You should expect these to be used as part of your treatment during your hospital stay. Please ensure that you have enough repeat medicines for when you get home and if possible buy a supply of your usual painkillers e.g. paracetamol. Pharmacy will only supply new items at discharge not your repeat medicines, this will help speed up your discharge. 9 Where can you have your Baby? At home NHS Dumfries and Galloway offer home birth as an option and should you choose to have your baby at home you will be fully supported by your named midwife and community midwifery team.